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Because drought conditions continue to worsen, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners declared a Stage 1 Water Supply Shortage on November 20, 2014 for the City of Long Beach. The Declaration puts into effect the following prohibited uses of water, until further notice:

Irrigating landscape with potable water any day other than Monday and/or Thursday, beginning on the first day of October through the end of the last day of the following March

Filling residential swimming pools and spas with potable water. Click here to read the Long Beach Water Department's "Best Management Practices for Pool and Spa Owners" that will help reduce potentially wasted water.

On February 27, 2014, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners declared an Imminent Water Supply Shortage for the City of Long Beach. The Declaration puts into effect the following prohibited uses of water, until further notice:

Serving drinking water to any customer in a restaurant or other public place where food is served, sold or offered for sale unless expressly requested by the customer; and

Irrigating landscape with potable water for more than 10 minutes per authorized day if using sprinkler heads that emit one or more gallons per minute, or for more than 20 minutes per authorized day if using stream rotator-type or gear driven sprinkler heads rated at emitting less than one gallon per minute.

In addition, the following are permanent water use prohibitions in the City of Long Beach, as adopted by the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners, and as incorporated, by reference, in the City of Long Beach Municipal Code:

Permitting the excess use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected

Irrigating landscape with potable water between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Irrigating landscape in a manner that results in unreasonable runoff, as determined by the General Manager, where water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walks, roadways, parking lots or structures

Irrigating landscape in a manner that is unreasonably water-inefficient, as determined by the General Manager. Unreasonable water-inefficient irrigation includes, but is not limited to, excessive over spray, excessive misting, over pressurization, misalignment or tilted spray heads, or other malfunction or out-of-adjustment condition which results in unreasonable waste of potable water

Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, patios or other outdoor areas with a hose unless using a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device (a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device shall discharge water at a minimum of 1,000 pounds per square inch or be rated at using less than three (3) gallons of water per minute). A simple spray nozzle does not qualify as a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device. Click here for information on qualifying pressure washers.

Washing a vehicle with a hose when the hose does not have a water shut-off nozzle or device attached to it or allowing a hose to run continuously while washing a vehicle

Any other water use resulting in excessive or unreasonable runoff, as determined by the General Manager, where water flows onto adjacent property, public or private walks or road, parking lots or other structures

Operating a fountain or other water feature that does not re-circulate the water

For water customers that are a hotel or motel, failing to provide customers the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily. The hotel or motel shall prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom and sleeping room using clear and easily understood language. The Department shall make suitable displays available

Restaurants and all other commercial, industrial, institutional food preparation sites using pre-rinse heads having flow-rates greater than 1.5 gallons of water per minute

Operating a commercial laundry system installed after November 3, 2006, that does not re-circulate wash and/or rinse water

Operating a conveyor type car wash system that does not re-circulate the wash and/or rinse water

Installing a single-pass cooling system in a building requesting a water connection after November 3, 2006

Using potable water, rather than reclaimed water, after the General Manager has provided to the customer an analysis showing that reclaimed water is a cost-effective alternative to potable water and the customer has had a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the General Manager to make the conversion to reclaimed water

Irrigating landscape using reclaimed water to the point that the landscape becomes saturated and irrigation waters flow off the landscape

There are several methods for reporting a violation of one of the city's Prohibited Uses of Water: